Considering the microbiota to achieve reduction in the numbers of animals used in scientific studies

Abstract

Elimination of pathogens by laboratory rodent commercial vendors has substantially improved
standardized conditions as well as laboratory animal welfare. However, pathogens
are also important for basic activation and functioning of the immune system with
consequential influences on the symbiotic bacteria composition in the individual microbiota.
One of the reasons for failures of translating results from preclinical research
to the clinical phase in some studies could be due to unintentional selection processes.
Some recommendations are provided to increase researchers’ awareness on this point,
together with a practical checklist to optimize information from microbiota knowledge.